EVERY day another 100 people will start to lose their sight. Support from the public helps us rebuild a life devastated by sight loss.

The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) is the leading charity in the United Kingdom offering information, advice and support to anyone with a serious sight problem.

Much of our funding comes from the general public placing donations in our famous 'Sooty' collecting boxes; these will be a familiar sight to many of your readers in shops, pubs and stores throughout the North West.

I am writing to ask for volunteers to help empty Sooty collecting boxes and then count and bank their contents, so that the RNIB can continue to provide our many great services.

This is interesting and rewarding work, volunteers can work as little or as often as they like knowing they are helping to support the many blind and partially-sighted people in the area.

Any readers who feel they can offer a few hours a month and would like to find out more can contact me on 01706 878691 for an informal chat.

MICHELLE SMITH, Community Fundraising Manager, RNIB, PB Box 65, Bacup.